I’ve heard of minimum ticket sale policies at all the major clubs in Manhattan but when it comes to Bowery Electric they seem to be pushing the envelope. As the heir apparent to CBGB’s throne, due to the types of bands who play there, and the address, and the ambiance which is as a super and clean CB’s for a 40 + crowd. And, finally, a 70s rock band wannabe Dee Generation’s Jesse Malin ownership of the club. For all those reason, you’d expect Bowery Electric to at least not charge bands that play there.
According to singer Cheri Dahl, that is not the case.
Dahl posted the following on Facebook: “HAVE FUN AT THE ‘FAKE ,PHONY CBGB’S PARTY WHERE MOST OF YOU HAVE NEVER BEEN , OR PLAYED AND LET ME SAY AGAIN THAT ANYONE WHO ‘PAYS’ TO PLAY THERE OR AT ANY CLUB…IS FOOLISH.THE OWNERS ARE THIEVES.WHY SHOULD WE PAY TO PLAY ? N GET AN AUDIENCE AND PROMOTE THEIR SHITTY UN-COOL ‘NEVER BE CB’S HIGH FALLUTIN’ CLUB? tHE OWNERS ARE SUPPOSED TO BE MUSICIANS-BUT THEY JUST FEED OFF THEIR ‘FAKE’ FRIENDS…THEY DON’T GIVE A FK ABOUT YOU-THEY WANT YOUR $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I BOYCOTT NOT ONLY THE BOWERY ELECTRIC ,BUT ALL CLUBS THAT DO THIS. SO A BIG FAT FUCK YOU TO ALL OF U ‘COOL’ CLUB OWNERS-YOU ARE ALL LOSERS ,NEVER MADE IT AND NOW YOU ARE SUCKING THE LIFE BLOOD OUT OF YOUR FRIENDS.YOU SUCK!!!!!!”
I am friends with Cheri and asked her to clarify her comment:
“The name of the owner of B.E one of them , is Jesse Malin,but everyone knows that-n we NEVER had a ‘thing’ so it is not about that ,it is nothing personal…which is why it is such B.S. he pretended to be my friend ,even produced some of of my best demos……he did not make it so he is draining whoever he can-so fuck him n Johnny.N all of them.I think Kenny at the Bitter end is the only one who doesn’t do that.”
What happened is that Ellen Foley had agreed to invite Cheri to open for her at the Bowery Electric but the club wouldn’t allow her to play without paying $200. Cheri again: “At CB’s ,Hilly never asked for $$$ , n never was disrespectful and always paid you whether it was 10 $ or 300$ , n they treated us like artists , not ‘Dollar makers for their greedy pockets’. If u can’t get people to come to your club just cause …..then it just sucks .”
In one sense, Bowery Electric are doing what most clubs do, and I get that, but to this extent? THE OPENING ACT??? $200??? Charging Cheri $200 to play? That’s really mean spirited and petty. You own a handful of clubs on Manhattan, why are you shaking down Cheri Dahl for $200? So much for punk rock lives on the Lower East Side.